Improvement in percussion-ball traps



411. PLUMB. k PeroussionBa'll-Trap.

*N 215,392. Patented M'a'y13, 187'9.

WITNESSES; ATTORNEYS.

N4 PEi'ERs. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPFER. WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. PLUMB, OF PATERSON, NEWIJERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN PERCUSSION-BALL TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,392, dated May 13,1879; application filed September 6, 1878, and renewed April 25, 1879.

To all whom it may con cernr Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PLUMB, ofPaterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and Improved Percussion-Trap for Throwing Glass Balls, ofwhich the following is a specification. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of myimproved percussiontrap for throwing glass balls; Fig. 2, a sectionalside elevation; and Fig. 3, atop view, partly in horizontal section, ofthe same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish for the extensively-practicedsport of shooting at glass balls an improved percussion-trap, by whichthe balls may be. thrown in more rapid succession than by thespring-traps at present employed, and also be thrown in any desireddirection, the percussion-trap working in more uniform manner, and beingmore durable and reliable than the sprin g-traps, which frequently giveout. p

The invention consists of a ball-supporting cap attached to the end of apiston-rod whose piston is guided in an adjustable barrel, and thrown upby the successive discharge of cartridges in a revolving cylinder. Thepiston is arranged with a cushioning-spring and the barrel withexit-holes for the gases of combustion. The chamber is turned by a pawlconnected with the trigger, and the hammer dropped thereby after eachforward motion of the chamber, so as to discharge a cartridge. Thebarrel is adjusted by a pivot bearing on an adjustable standard to admitthe throwing of the balls in any desired direction.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a cup into which the glass orother balls are placed for being thrown up into the air. The cup isattached to the upper end of a pistonrocl, B, that is guided in thesuitably-stuffed head of a barrel, 0. To the lower end of the piston-rodB is applied a piston, B, that is fitted by packing to the interior ofthe barrel. The barrel 0 is supported by a pivot-shaft, at, extending atright angles from the barrel in top bearings, b, of a hinged standard,D, for being adjusted to any desired lateral inclination.

When the barrelis let into the proper position it is rigidly secured bya clamping thumbnut, d, to the standard. The hinged standard D is alsoreadily adjusted into forward and backward direction by a pivot-arm, Dwhose lower end slides in guides D of the base-frame of the trap, and islocked thereto by a pin or other device, 0, passing through holes of theguides and arm. The barrel may thereby be adjusted to any angle ofinclination in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the device,while the pivoting of the barrel admits of lateral adjustment. The glassball may therefore, by this compound adjustment, be thrown in anydirection-forward, sidewise, or back, as desired.

To the lower part of the barrel 0, and at one side thereof, is hinged abracket-frame, E, which is attached by a suitable lockin g device, tothe opposite side of the barrel, so as to be firmly retained in positionat the lower end of the same. The bracket-frame E carries a revolvingcylinder, F, immediately below the lower end of the barrel, a hammer, G,and the trigger H.

The cylinder is arranged with any desired number of chambers and pivotedto a centerpin, 9, of the frame E, the pin entering a socket of thebarrel when the bracket-frame is locked thereto. The spring-actedtrigger H is connected, by means of a pivoted and springacted lever hookor pawl, H, with the cylinder F, whose circumference is notched ortoothed, so as to be taken hold of by the pawl and moved forward,bringing thereby successively one cartridge after the other below thebottom opening of the barrel. 7

. A spring check-pawl, g, secures the regular motion of the cylinder.The trigger is acted upon by a strong spring, h, that tends to throw itforward, so as to move the hook-pawl H forward for engaging the nexttooth of the cylinder. The trigger is of elbow shape, its lower shorterarm engaging the rear end of the fulcrumed and spring-acted hammer G,and raising the same when the trigger is pulled back by the attendant.The cylinder is simultaneously therewith moved by the pawl and thehammer dropped at the moment when the trigger releases its rear end, soas to strike one of the cartridges that has arrived at the same timebelow the bottom opening of the barrel. The cartridge is therebydischarged, the forceof the percussion propelling the piston upward, andthrowing thereby the ball up into the air.

The forward motion of the trigger imparted by its spring causes itslower arm to pass side wise of the laterally-swinging an d spring-actedrear part of the hammer, so as to assume the position again below therear part, and raise and drop the hammer by the next pulling of thetrigger by the attendant.

By feeding new balls to the cup, either antomatically irom a hopper orother device or by hand, and quickly pulling the trigger, as many ballsas there are cartridges in the cylinder may be thrown up in rapidsuccession without the loss of time and the trouble caused by thereadjustment of the spring-traps. The piston is cushioned by a rubbersleeve or other sprin arrangement, B placed above thepiston, so as toneutralize the concussion of the piston with the head of the barrel. Thepiston is returned by its own weight and that of the cup and ball assoon as the gases of combustion have passed out through holes 5 at themiddle part of the barrel.

Any suitable construction of the revolving cylinder, hammer, and triggermay be used for discharging the cartridges, provided that a quick andreliable operation of these parts is obtained.

The rapidity with which the balls may be thrown with my percussion-trapincreases the pleasure of this sport, and renders it more interestingand exciting, while furnishing a simpler mode of working it, as only acharged cylinder has to be substituted for the discharged one forcontinuing the throwing of the balls.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. Apercussion trap for throwing glass balls,consisting of a barrel with a cushioned piston and a piston-rod carryingthe ball-cup, and of a percussion mechanism by which the piston andballs may be quickly and successively thrown, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a barrel having gas-escape holes, of a slidingand inclined piston and cup-carrying piston-rod, and of percussionmechanism secured to the lower part of the barrel, substantially asspecified.

3. The combination of a barrel, having a stufi'ed top head, bottomspring, and gas-escape holes, with a sliding-and cushioned piston and aguided cup-carrying piston-rod, and with percussion mechanism that ishinged and locked. to the lower part of the barrel, substantially asherein shown and described;

WVILLIAM H. PLUMB.

Witnesses:

Jos. A. STERLING, PAUL GoEPEL.

